The Harbinger of Ferocity

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

She made no effort to disallow the scaled one's interruption, neither quite welcoming it nor unthankful for the distraction. The attention for the time being had been less upon her and now on the other. By some means, maybe nothing more than sheer luck, the young men that made up the majority of the town's seeming guard at this gate stayed their weapons; the older men were wise enough to stand back, as ready as they might think themselves to be with two strange arrivals. She knew they had no interest in an actual fight, but they were not about to outright tell her let alone any other that. They were obligated to make some form of effort and await someone who knew what specifically to do, which in time proved about as accurate as the keen mind of the aging woman thought.

"No, there had been no problem." She replied with a narrowed brow, observing how the throaty man unslung his weapon from his person.

Pondering if he was quite aware of what it was she meant, there seemed to come a more pressing matter as the guardsmen became more postured and disciplined in arms. Sakaala however, did not move - she had no need to - even with the unnatural idleness of one of her limbs. She could hear another man's approach just as she had the great footsteps of the dragon-blooded prior, but these were not nearly the same. In truth, she was unsure what the sound had been at first - the dragon's arrival - let alone the presence of it; she had heard of such creatures, but seeing one was unusual.

This was different yet familiar, a level of predictability that came with years of being around men.

A robust man who appeared nothing akin to the others came to confront them both, looking the two over with a forwardness that the former ranger could feel as nothing but prideful and arrogant. The accent of his words perhaps stronger than he was, he called himself a "Vigilant" and appeared to hold some sway over these men - many of whom eased their weapons' threats. They seemed to support him, or at least had the confidence to act it, but she reasoned it was legitimate.

She stared down and back with a hardened set of eyes, "I have no quarrel with the people of your town, but you and others would do well to not call me 'cat', Vigilant."

"Short of this, you are correct. Indeed I am looking for such a man and those who follow him."

The calmness in the intensity of her words betrayed a personal investment in the matters of the Vigilants, one the beastwoman appeared strangely educated upon. It was clear she had business with them, perhaps long ago or quite old by the looks of her herself, but that she came here and now only called up greater inquiry. Just who was she and why did she fancy herself in a position to confront them? It undoubtedly was not by sword - she could kill any number of men, but they'd no doubt overwhelm her - not by quill either, words maybe? What words could a monstrous thing have of any value?

@Mag Lev@dragonmancer@Athinar

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

That there best be a next time, @Carantathraiel. The world needs more cats and art of them as well.

Have we been writing Character Sheets wrong?

I understand I have the unique fortune and means to work with a great selection of artists and that not all are so lucky, but when I write a character, I think they deserve the piece. It solidifies their identity, even if I only am able to employ their character once, ever. It is a prestige of sorts and as strange as it might be to say, it really is not just for me. Most of my favorite personas I have dreamt up were finalized in identity by art; I could look at them and go, "This is how someone other than me sees them. I want that image to be who everyone thinks of now."

I do not traditionally "wedge" my characters in and some never have their art released to the public; the roleplay could die, the artist could get busy with actual work, the piece and concept are not syncing and so forth. That and... it is mine. My efforts and that of someone I worked closely with have a measured impact.

Changing discussion slightly, my references toward anime characters is mostly because my experiences with it are so jarring. One moment you have a world-weary, hardened soldier forced sellsword done in muted, dull colors and the next you have artwork stolen straight from a series with bright colors, huge eyes or equally unmatched aspects. It would be one thing if I were in that sort of environment, but as you can reason I am not the sort to.

As for elaborations, @Shoryu Magami, to hell with those who do not read because of their length! It obviously was not going to notably impact their person or mean anything for them if they cannot be bothered to merely read. I am pleased to say though that we agree as far as I can tell.

Have we been writing Character Sheets wrong?

To provide a brief few comments on an already well developed conversation, here is my lot.

Writing a character's description, including what they oft wear or even always do in some circumstances is part of their identity. If these words were a movie, it would distinguish them and help put their personality in mind. You can learn a lot about a character, even their writer, by this as anyone might know, but you learn more than you would otherwise without. It gives you another in to their mindset, even if the two elements are disjointed and seemingly utterly mismatched. Like it or not, people usually wear things that you can define a pattern from that gives you a window into their mind - who they are, what they do, why, how they are themselves and so forth. Characters should be just that in my opinion - people.

If you want them to feel real, to feel a connection to them, even this outsider information is fairly essential. From my point, it is not even optional in the slightest. To not include it is neglectful - even disrespectful to me as a reader as I have less trust for you and your work; you are not supplying me with information I would consider as basic as it gets. Call me jaded by my life experiences, because I am, but appearance can be crucial as ever and as is its mere perception. Digging deeper, I find withholding it leads to a number of basic issues beyond characterization - just lack of fact checking or memory.

You probably have seen it, at least once, where two players devolve into an argument because they gave an inaccurate detail about a character. To me, the less you get someone's character wrong the more invested you are and the less disrespectful you come across; I go by the mentality of constantly trying to fact check people's sheets so I react appropriately with my own characters to theirs. Anything less is insincere and oft arrogant - just my feelings on it.

But what do they wear? Do they wear it all the time? Do they always look like that? Unless I, the Game Master or someone else changes it, consider that as is. What about if time passes or its a different day? Same concept. Consider it as is until it isn't. Why? Continuity. Some characters, like people, will wear the same things; some eveb do not have a choice about it, or the changes are thoughtful and deliberate. At times obvious leeway is given, but I try not to drone on about every single detail, but I will mention them at least at once. I weave them in where I can, especially if they are plot or identity relevant. That weird thing I might keep referring to from time to time in a post? Likely not a coincidence. It can be, but oft isn't.

What about pictures?

Unless I own the art, which for my characters I always do when I use pictures because of my philosophy and interest in the matter, I do not want to see them. Many issues I take with them is the raw differences in genre. Not to be too aggressive but I loathe anime pictures in non-anime topics, as an example. Can I always hit the mark and theme? No, but I try to get close or use none at all - I can settle with sketches. But for real people? Almost every photograph of a character feels phony, fake or stock - because most are. Most are too beautiful, stylized or worse, celebrity.

Besides, if we are in a writing medium, I want written explanations and elaborations. I want you to make me envision your idea as best you can muster. Do I want an equipment list with every damn detail down to the name brand and the exact specifications? Never. But details are good - the difference between a "sword" and an "aged iron sword in need of a whetstone" are massive. I think I understand your angle better than before without.

Yet, what about the "Can they only use swords?" example. It depends - if they are carrying, wearing or wielding a specific thing even in appearance alone, my initial thought is going to be that is their go-to. The player with say, the handgun and laptop as his get tell me from the start he isn't dangerous because of the gun; the mage in emerald robes trimmed in gold, adorned by a elaborate headdress? She is probably a noble, or fancies herself one, in addition to wielding magic. It can work both ways, but few do it well with a "false appearance".

Also, common sense for where it all goes in disuse. If one really has nowhere to stow or hide gear, your issues other than appearance every day are more pressing.

Professor Oak Asks: Boy or Girl?

I believe it is a component of identity that helps better define characters and, if properly used, differentiate them from one another. The theme and feeling may change entirely for a character design because of it, but is it always a deciding factor? No. Is gender most often a write-off and unimportant factor to a character's sheet? Yes, it is in many cases, but not all. It might be intentional or even subconscious, but the differences still are there and change what one feels for them or the lack thereof.

I have characters of male and female sorts, but my female characters are better written. Why? They are distorted reflections of real people I knew and know, who I borrow inspiration from. They are nothing alike them, they would never "recognize" one another per say, but it stems from the people I have had around me. Does their real gender, which they share, greatly affect that? In most cases, yes.

But what if we stripped one of my methods away, what am I left with? The reality for me is that, in many cases, even doing my best to avoid clichés and pitfalls, most my male archetypes come too close to comfort with them. To provide an example, one of my characters is a monster by truest definition, but not by choice and struggles constantly with trying to be human and retain humanity; the ride of adrenaline to the crash after, as savage as it can be. Classical concept, nothing new. A female character with the same story? A bit more unusual - her circumstances feel different because the expectation is different, right or wrong. She feels more organic as a concept, because I can toy with what is thought or even desired by a reader.

In my experience with writing with others either gender means nothing or is everything. The former over the latter by and far is what I have witnessed, yet it isn't my point. What it means to me is that most creative writers either set out to make it a point or it changes nothing. To me that is weaker, to make it have no purpose. The character is often lacking in being fleshed out and presented without a total concept in mind; gender at that point means nothing. The other extreme can work for or against a story, in that too often I see "hyper masculine, ultra men who are all badass" or "she is a delicate flower who really has a heart".

It is more novel to see the two changed by gender alone - your results and interaction is almost always different; an emotional, sensitive, thoughtful and caring male is seen as "weak" or "useless" too often, just as a tough, aggressive, no nonsense woman is a "bitch" or "manly" because she isn't the delicate flower. They are still tropes, but they can evolve beyond cliché and expectation much better to be their own identity. It still is about how the writer writes for them, but from the get they are already breaking the mold. Some however, most, are just as content to use those archetypes as their only defining feature which is less about gender again and about a bad or inexperienced author.

In the end, it doesn't matter to me the he, she or otherwise. How good are you at "inventing" other people and their story? Do they feel real, in their context, or are they stock cardboard cutouts you saw and adopted for yourself?

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

You are doing this to tease me, @Carantathraiel. Purposefully withholding examples or names.

Cara's Originally Titled OoC Hangout Thread ♥ (Still)

Not satisfied with one Smilodon? Here, have another.

Actual

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

A pleasant sensation, a distracting one, warmed the worn face of a traveler in the way it always did at this hour with its rays. The morning sun was a blessing, gentle enough to caress rather than oppress as it did in other places - summer or not. It now found itself above the boughs of the forest flanked road, illuminating much if not all of it and draping the rest in soft shadows which swayed at most in the breeze. For many days prior it had done this just as well, year after year beyond number or even recollection and well before the path here existed surely, but for the past few weeks and months it also revealed the aforementioned wanderer. She had avoided the open throughout its majority, seeing it only sparsely through the branches above but not without reason.

Whereas most men could walk freely in the day without fear, rather greater safety in doing so, her odd figure could not. It was only now as she drew closer yet to the mingled town of men and elves did she have no other option but to set down the road in plain view; concealing herself would only arouse worries if she were discovered, ones that often met in violence if panic was not preceding and prevailing. So she endured the end of her travel on the dry earthen road before her, distancing herself from her concerns of being so vulnerable by musing on the sky above her.

Even with one pallid eye marred by a wicked scar that drew from brow to cheek, she admired it and the openness of it all before her, letting it lull her into a sense of better memories.

But those did not last, not as she drew ever closer and ever nearer. The seriousness of her nature and her concerns played themselves out as her jowls curved from subtle contentment to disciplined calm. It returned to her, this levelheadedness, when she saw the outskirts before her unfolding; houses built along the path with some among the trees and fields and others right beside the road. All the same, she moved onward and into the foreign land with the same pace her large feet carried her before, the dull glint of the sun upon her armored breast and the rest absorbed by the dark tatters of her faded robe and cloak.

A few folk, busying themselves in conversation beside a low fence, became quiet. A woman in humble tan threads pushed her child behind her and the man, once leaning against the fence, stared just as wide eyed as them both. He didn't move - almost as though he feared that if he so much as twitched the stranger who towered over him as she passed would cut him down where he stood. Others tending their fields or stock likewise slowed to various halts, with at the most hushed mutters and murmurs circulating. They were unpleasant words, some spoken in the common tongue, others in elven, but the former were far more critical than those latter. The wanderer paid them no heed in response, though in heart she felt their bite just as much as she had before; they were just as much daggers today as they were ten, twenty, if not thirty or more years ago.

It took her time, with onlookers still staring the entire way, to reach the gates of the city. While manned by mostly various elf blooded guard, the men on post before her rose to their feet at what they saw coming toward them upon the road. Many tipped their helmets or cupped their hands to their brow; what thing was so bold as to walk into the city and just what was it exactly? Of all of them to react however, the youngest and most inexperienced man did. He was a boy playing soldier, perhaps just old enough to have found his way into the guard on good favor or debts he or family owed, either way he raised his weapon and challenged the tall, strange woman. Rushing closer as he did, spear at the ready, he raised the point but perhaps a few feet from her; his cohorts hesitated behind him, unsure if he was doomed or if he would actually stop her.

And stop she did.

He glanced unsteadily from shoulder to shoulder, realizing he was alone despite his mustered demand to know who she was and what business she had; "You, thing, who - who are you and w-what is your business?"

The other few men fell in, keeping their weapons low at the ready, attempting not to escalate matters any further but unsure just what it was they were looking at let alone dealing with. She was this odd melding of woman and terrible beast of prey, with a tawny fur to her, strong limbs and injuries of old; unsightly, so they felt, but unnerved all the same. Not quite a monster as they expected or had heard, but not at all what they were prepared to meet on this day at their gate.

She moved carefully the left hand to remove her hood, revealing her ferine muzzle in its fullest. They stared at one another in brief, man and beast, observing the cold lifelessness of one wounded eye and the vibrant gold of the other that punctuated her features. The threatening spear shook a little, but shivered more when her low, rumbling voice spoke with near regal authority.

"I am Sakaala and my business is work."

@Mag Lev

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

Some would say, but not all combat is glorious or honorific. Killing a man who failed to pay his debts, fled, and drew the blood of others is hardly throwing down the gauntlet and challenging an elite of another nation; directed kidnappings and ransoms by the order of a crown or lordship are certainly par for the course of a mercenary, so what honor is to be gained of cutting down their entourage, armed or not? Alive or dead quarry, but all you return with is dead men?

There's quite a few who would question "honor".

𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕊𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕆𝔽 𝕍𝕀ℕ𝔻𝔼ℝ𝕍𝔸𝕃𝕃

People who kill others for nothing but coin probably have about as good as a reputation as they do today, if not worse; not very good. Honorific society? At least you're still a "warrior", just an honorless one. Being a peasant let alone a criminal I take it is probably worse. A bit personal too, I take it.